What's your day job?
 

I realize some of us here in the boards are full time production, others striving to get there, like me. What do you do for work when not doing production?



Me = 2nd level Network Analyst for a LARGE military financial company.
Also = Web developer (mainly small sites)
Also = Vocalist (funk, rock, hip-hop)

I write for various magazines and sites, including Videomaker, VASST, DMN and more. I also teach part-time at the Palm Beach Film School. About once or twice a week, I do either indie film or video production (video pays the best, go figure), but of course, I'd love to see that increase, esp. the film production.

heath

Land use planner for Dane County, Wisconsin.

Doesn't leave me much time for editing!

Freelance IT consultant, its how I got into this game in the first place.

B and H Photo

Pro Video Sales

I always wondered how one could get a gig as a writer for mags. Very nice, and very busy you are.

It probably gives you access to some pretty nice locations though, no?

It seems easier to get into other techie fields when you have computers and networking down. At least for me, picking up software like Premiere 4 years ago and not being overwhelmed is what made me keep going.

Dana,


Got to love you folks over at B&H!!! I have zero complaints about everything I've purchased over there. It's also nice to see someone who works there be pop in, this is definitely the spot.

I work at a bagel place :( Unfortunatly I cant get alot of money for video stuff out of the bagel industry.

(I'm only 17) haha

Believe it or not, I'm 42 and retired (Not sure if that is the correct word) but you could also say on pension. When I was 17 I worked in a colemine 700 meters below the ground and one of the priviliges was that you could stop working after 25 years because of the unhealthy working conditions. When I was 25 all the mines closed due to the though competition of cheap imported african cole but I kept the pension priveliges. After that I worked as a carpenter and the last 15 years at IKEA. A year before I retired I decided to do something which I enjoyed doing and slowly started up my business, my father has been filming wedding for more then 20 years so I got the virus from him. When my pension started I did the filming part fulltime and be my own boss, I'm enjoying every bit of it.

They finally found someone to fill that position huh? I saw them advertising for that position for ages. Good luck to you.

I also concur with Marco's comments. Always a pleasurable experience working with you guys.

Tim

Yes, but all the bagels you can eat right? LOL

Noa,

Wow what sort of gear did/does your father use?

Not that there's anything wrong with discussing our vocations in a thread, but remember too that there is a place in your profile to list your occupation.

Unlike your location (City and ST or Province in North America, City and Country outside North America), which is a requirement of DVinfo membership, listing your occupation and gear is optional but often helpful. Definitely encouraged!

I operate a group of picture framing schools in CT, Vegas and Orlando. Wanna open a custom picture framing business? The profit picture can be pretty nice.

I wrote for a magazine for 10 years prior to starting my first school.

If I could however, I'd produce videos. I love the technology and the creativity.

Marco,

I have done reviews at both www.DVinfo.net and www.HDVinfo.net, which led to co-writing "HDV: What You Need to Know, Vol. 2" with Douglas Spotted Eagle. From there, I contacted DMN and Videomaker, and they hired me to write as a freelancer. I also have written a few things at VASST (DSE's company) and 3 years ago, I interviewed the OPEN WATER filmmakers for MovieMaker.

I'd love to write for MM again. It's a lot of fun!

heath

And like most of us here, I'd love to work only as a film director/producer. However, I love my day jobs.

heath

The only camera's I remember him using before his Sony vx2100 which he owns now was a Sony vx2000 and before that a vx9000. He has a wall filled up with vhs decks which he still uses for people who want a vhs tranfer to dvd. I remember him doing his first "real" edits on a cassablanca avio which he still has and which is still operational. Now since 2 years he is using a pc with pinnacle studio 10 and recently he bought a dual core pc :) and that at an age of 65. He still does weddings but is slowly getting tired of it. He thinks hdv sucks and is no better then dv :) and the only way to measure a camera's performance is by how well it performes in low light. It is by joining him at a few weddings I managed to get my feet wet and learning the business. Hopefully I will still be filming at his age. :)

Java programmer - web applications developer. I've been in that industry for almost 13 years now. Can't say that I like it, but it pays well - letting me buy all my video gear and occasionally have time to use it. ;-)

I am Systems Engineer for a company that sells Telecommunications Test Equipment. I suppose I am one of the leading experts on testing T1 circuits from a Network Operations Center. I have been doing pretty much the same type of work for over 20 years. It pays well and except for the extensive travel, it is a good job that leaves my weekends open, and I can live anywhere in the USA that I wish to live.

I notice you live in Clermont, Steven, that's cool. I love my jobs, too, because if my wife and I decide to move, I can continue writing articles. However, I'll need to find new production work.

It's cool that there are a lot of IT people on our board. I've noticed people who are breaking into the industry in my area have a similar background.

heath

I've noticed that too, if you are a true geek it tends to spill over into a lot of other areas like sound/video production, HAM, RC toys, guns, custom street rods, etc. I think being confortable with something most find complicated really helps the crossovers.

I notice a lot of filmmakers and videographers (and IT people) are also avid photographers, usually with DSLRs.

heath

What's your day job?
 

Former IT for very large international law firm in San Francisco for 11 years. Burned out on IT.

Videographer for 10 years as a hobby and now a wedding videographer for 7 years.

Still working for #1 place to work in America in Silicon Valley.

Volunteer fitness instructor at the YMCA.

Day Job: Full time independent producer
Night Job: aspiring feature film director

Your jobs=envy

Dylan's the man! I have a friend who is a full-time editor on major motion pictures. I envy him. The DP on my film is pretty much a full-time DP on music videos and various films.

heath

Day job = corporate IT for the second largest private company in the world (2006).

Part time = location sound recordist on indie movies.

What's the company called, Mike?

heath

Still actually hiring more for the department. You'll probably still see the ads.

Maybe I should do some reviews, lol...

It's also all about networking, too.

heath

Unfortunately, I spend most of my day sitting at a desk.

But, you are right to some degree. I do occasionally come across some favorite fishing holes, taverns and bird-watching or star-gazing spots.
[No, I ain't telling! So don't ask! ;-)]

My favorite jobs are when I get to help out our Parks Department look over some potential new acquisitions. The real downers are the new sites for giant subdivisions or strip malls. Bleah!

I love my health insurance.

I love my health insurance via my wife.

heath

Booo, yeah we see that out here as well. So sad watching Coyotes running around a soon to be strip mall, looking for what was his den...

What's your day job?
The wife.
But I was seriously thinking of getting a part time job at a gas station.
How's that?

--------------------------------------
Actually, I write for other people---almost anything (mostly legal stuff), and an article now and then. That and some video or stills along with selling instructional tapes and a book.

I have a degree in watchmaking. I'm currently employed as an aircraft flight instrument technician, repairing the older electromechanical flight instruments used in helicopters. It's a fun gig. There is a shortage of people who can work on the older instruments.

Before that, I worked for a major international jewelry line as a watchmaker in one of their national repair centers.

Martin,

One of my old favorite guitarists of Anthrax, Dan Spitz, left the band in 1995 or so and became a very well-regarded watchmaker. I think he moved from New York to Miami. He recently did a reunion tour with the former singer and bassist of Anthrax, but I believe his passion is now watches.

I am even considering wearing one again after I saw some nice Casios. At any rate, welcome aboard!

heath